Switch-containing cigar lighter element



Sept. 22, 1936. L. LUDWIG 2,055,202

SWITCH CONTAINING CIGAR LIGHTER ELEMENT Filed Sept. 25, 1935 INVENTOR. Lou S L uO/w 1 .fikw'dz ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH-CONTAINING CIGAR LIGHTER ELEMENT 3 Claims.

The invention relates to cigar lighter elements of the type which contain an automatic switch which causes the circuit to close when the element is tilted to a certain position, and is an improvement on my prior Patent No. 1,956,240.

The invention has for one of its main objects to provide a cigar lighter element of a new and simplified construction which can be manufactured at a very low price and which contains but few parts, none of which are easily broken or distorted even when the element is exposed to severe usage. Another main object is to provide means on such cigar lighter elements whereby they may be attached or secured to any holder or container, in which it may be desirable to mount them, with greater ease than has formerly been the case. A further object is to provide means which will prevent the current from flickering on and off due to vibration or shaking and which will tend to break the current more rapidly.

These and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which, however, modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of the element,

Fig. 2 a cross-sectional side view, showing the element turned around one quarter,

Fig. 3 another cross-sectional side view, showing the switch mechanism closed,

Fig. 4 still another cross-sectional side view showing the element turned upside down,

Fig. 5 a bottom view, and

Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

Referring now to all the views simultaneously, the element consists of an insulating body member I 0 having a rear recess II and a series of grooves I2 in the top face in which the heating element I3 is located. A cup shaped contact member I4 is inserted in the recess I I and 15 connected to one end of the resistance coil I3 by means of a screw I5. The other end of the coil is connected to a bolt I6.

Two sidewardly extending projections I! and I8 are formed on the body member and the bolt I6 extends through a hole I9 moulded in the projection I8, while another, but shorter, bolt 29 extends through a hole 2I moulded in the projection I1. The upper end of this hole is countersunk, as shown at 22, so that the head of the bolt is a considerable distance below the resistance coil I3. A perforator mica disc 23 is placed on the upper face of the element with its perforations aligned with the grooves in the face, and this mica disc is held in place by a cap 24.

Two grooves 25 and 26 are formed in the lower end of the body member and an insulating washer 2i is clamped to this end by means of the bolts I6 and 2D. A contact member 28 is clamped in the groove 25 by means of the bolt 20. This contact member has an upwardly extending arm 29 and a concave contact disc 30 in which a hole 3| is concentrically punched. While the wires from a circuit may be attached directly to the bolts It and 20, wire clamps 32 and 33 are preferably employed and these clamps are secured in the grooves Hand 26, as shown. A threaded hole 34 and two notches 35 and 36 are provided in the washer 21, while a metal ball 3'! is free to move in the chamber 38 formed between the cup I4 and the disc 30.

The elements may readily be attached in any holder or other objects in which it is desired to 20 use it, by means of the washer 21; either by means of a screw inserted in the hole 31 or by clamping the washer to the holder in any other suitable manner. The element may be used either in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, or in a hang- 5 ing position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The element operates in the following manner. When the element is in either of the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4 no current can flow through it. However, when the element is tilted 0 to the position shown in Fig. 3, the ball will roll on the concave disc until it touches the cup I4 and a current will now flow through (see Fig. 2) wire connector 32, contact 28, arms 29, disc contact 35], ball 31, cup contact I4, screw I5, coil I3 35 and, back through the bolt I 6, to the wire clip 33.

When the element is placed in the position shown in Fig. 2, the ball seats in the hole 3|. This prevents the ball from rolling in the disc except when the element is actually tilted and thus prevents the current from flickering on and off as might be the case if the ball was caused to roll by vibrations or shaking. The hole also assists in breaking the current more rapidly between the cup and the ball when the element is returned to its normal position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this element is of extremely simple construction and that it adapts itself for use in a great many kinds of holders where no provisions are made for the ordinary, screw-threaded elements. It will also be noted that the construction is such that not only may the element be used in an upright position or in a hanging position, as previously stated,

but that, should it be accidentally upset, there is no danger of the switch being closed and thus cause a fire.

Having described my invention and its objects what I claim is new and wish to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cigar lighter element comprising; an insulating member having a heating element in- V serted in its front face, a recess formed in its rear face, and holes extending from the front to the rear face; a cup-shaped contact member inserted in said recess and electrically connected to one end of the heating element; the other end of the heating element connected to a bolt inserted in one of the holes in the body member; another bolt inserted in the other hole; a disc-shaped con 7 tact member electrically connected with said lastmentioned bolt; a hole provided concentrically in said disc-shaped contact member; a free-moving contact ballcontained in the chamber formed between the contact member and normally seated in the hole in the disc-shaped contact member; and an insulating washer secured, to the rear end of the element by means of said bolts; said washer constituting themeans by which the element is attachable to a holder or similar object.

2. A cigar lighter element comprising; an insulating member having a heating element inserted in its front face, a recess formed in its rear face, and holes vextending from the front to the rear face; a cup-shaped contact member inserted in said recess and electrically connected to one end of the heating element; the other end of the heating element connected to a bolt in- I serted in one of the holes in the body member;

another bolt inserted in the other hole; a discshaped contact member electrically connected with said last-mentioned bolt; a free-moving contact ball contained in the chamber formed between the contact members; means associated with the disc-shaped contact member for preventing accidental movement of the said contact ball when the element is in its normal position; and an insulating washer secured to the rear end of the element by means of said bolts, said washer constituting the means by which the element is attachable to a holder or similar object.

3. A cigar lighter element comprising; an insulating member having a'heating element inserted'in its front face, a recess formed in its rear face, and holes extending from the front to the rear face; a cup-shaped contact member inserted insaid recess and electrically connected to one end of the heating element; the other end of the heating element'connected to a bolt in serted in one of the holes in the body member; another bolt inserted inthe other hole; a discshaped contact member electrically connected with said last-mentioned bolt; a free-moving contact ball contained in the chamber formed between the contact members; means associated with the disc-shaped contact member for rapidly breaking the current when the element is placed 

